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Guitar setup: Acoustic Guitar Repair: Fret Dressing a Martin D 28

September 16, 2009 — Graham Parker Luthier

This Martin HD 28 is in the workshop for a full set up and fret dress. It dates back to 1987 and this is its first serious set up.

The frets are showing signs of wear and tear. Also the fingerboard has started to show signs of wear and has a few grooves worn into it around the lower end on the treble side.
The fingerboard wear is tackled first. It is skimmed between the frets and the worst of the grooves filled and smoothed.

Next comes the fret dress.

The truss rod is released to ensure that the fingerboard is flat and level. The neck is supported along its length. The body work is protected and masked off.

The fret tops are skimmed with a fine honing stone to remove all fret wear and grooves. Also to ensure all frets are a uniform height.

The fingerboard is masked off. Each fret is re-profiled.

Each fret is polished up to 2500 grade Silicon Carbide paper and then finely polished with burnishing cream.

The guitar is strung up and the truss-rod reset for Martin medium gauge strings.

Graham has just completed my 1987 Martin HD-28; and I cannot praise highly enough the quality of workmanship and care which has gone into the repair of the guitar. The man has a calm relaxing air about him, which installs confidence in you in his ability, very easy to get along and you know you’re going to be satisfied.

Look at the picture examples of this guitar and you will see what I am trying to convey. It’s very difficult to find someone you can depend on and trust in this field, he is the business.